Eleven SLA 10th graders attended the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science state competition on May 17th at Penn State's main campus.  This is the first year SLA has had students enter the PJAS fair, and we're extremely proud of everyone!

Ashley Etheredge, Elisa Hyder, and Natasha Ashby won 3rd prize.  Marina Stuart, Natalie Sanchez, Markia Johnson, Blase Biello, Jeff Kessler, and Doug Wallace won 2nd prize.  Will Felinski won 1st prize for his project on wind turbines, and Zayd Alsardary also won first prize for his project on the genetics of E. Coli.

Congratulations to all the students who participated in this year's PJAS science fair!

Congratulations to everyone who participated in this year's Carver Science Fair.  The following students were recognized at the awards ceremony on Friday 3/12.  Those who won 1st, 2nd, or 3rd prize will advance to the Delaware Valley Science Fair regional competition.

Ali Ahmed: honorable mention in the microbiology category

Zayd Alsardary: 3rd prize in the Biochemistry category

Natasha Ashby: honorable mention in the Physics category

Julia Boyer: honorable mention in the Physics category

Jason Davis: 3rd prize in the Earth and Space science category

Will Felinski: 1st prize in the Earth and Space science category.  Will also won the Excellence in Science award presented by the Educational Advancement Alliance.

Luna Frank-Fisher: honorable mention in the Biochemistry category

Paige Gbasie: honorable mention in the Chemistry category

Elisa Hyder: honorable mention in the Zoology category

Jeff Kessler: 1st prize in the Medicine and Health category

Congratulations to all the SLA students who participated in the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science science fair on Saturday, February 20th!

The following students won first prize:

Zayd Alsardary

Natasha Ashby 

Blase Biello

Ashley Etheredge

Will Felinski

Elisa Hyder

Markia Johnson

Jeff Kessler

Natalie Sanchez

Marina Stuart

Doug Wallace

The following students won second prize:

Kyla Carden  

Gisela Giolafina

Jasmine Gladden

Delesha Jackson

Elona Myftaraj

Uyen Nguyen

Shalia Wallace

Alaya White

While learning about biological taxonomy, our 9th grade bio/chem students took a closer look at taxonomic similiarites and differences between the earthworm and human.  Students then dissected the earthworm and researched some of the worm's body systems.  The final aspect of this project was to prepare and present a digital portfolio comparing the taxonomy and anatomy of the human to that of the earthworm.

I've attached the student guide, teacher unit plan, and a sample of student work.

The following students were selected to participate in Penn State's Science Leadership Camp:

Angeleah Adams
Shareesa Bollers
AJ Carter
Morgan Craig-Williams
Danielle Duncan
Anthony Harley
Naima Holland
Amber Jackson
Aimee Leong
Zachary Walls

These students will spend a week at Penn State this summer, meeting with professors, working with grad students, and mentoring younger students in Penn State's "Myth Meets Science" camp.  Congratulations and good luck!

Congratulations to the SLA students who won awards for their participation in the Carver Science Fair. Anthony Harley, Emma Connell, Rachel Patterson, Amira Young, and Freda Anderson all received honorable mentions. Aimee Leong and Brett Chapman won 3rd place in their categories. Taylor Valentine won 2nd place in the medicine/health category and received the Naval Science Award. Cody Nichols won 1st place in the earth/space science category and received the Forest Service Award and the Educational Advancement Alliance Award. Aimee, Brett, Taylor, and Cody will all advance to the Delaware Valley Science Fair in early April. Contratulations to everyone who participated!

Congratulations to all the students who participated in the Carver Science Fair. In addition, the following students will be recognized at Friday's Carver awards ceremony:

Taylor Valentine
Emma Connell
Aimee Leong
Rachel Patterson
Cody Nichols
Catherine Young
Freda Anderson
Anthony Harley
Brett Chapman

For our 10th grade Q1 benchmark, our students gathered soil and water samples from a proposed construction site next the Schuykill river near SLA. We then tested these samples for the presence of various chemicals. The class' lab data was shared electronically, and students wrote an environmental impact study paper based on this data. Each student used the data to support their recommendation as to whether the construction should proceed as planned.